Over the past year and a half, Student Council has been working on preserving a garden the school has left long forgotten. The Energy and Environment committee has turned over a new leaf, making sure the garden it is filled with new plants that can be easily taken care of so the garden doesn’t become as neglected as it used to be.

Senior Molly Burke has been leading the project since the beginning and is making sure the garden thrives after she graduates.

“

This year we’ve focused on decorating the garden more and are actually hoping on painting a mural on the upper wall,”

— Molly Burke, 12

“I would like for the classes to be able to go out and sit in the garden even after I’m gone,” Burke said. “We’ve even gotten plants that can adapt to the weather so that when we’re away on breaks they can survive without constant attention.”

A lot of hard work has been put into the garden, replacing dead plants and keeping healthy ones alive and even decorating the garden by using recycled tires.

“We basically ripped out every plant in the garden last year,” Burke said. “We spent a lot of time planting new ones in their place. This year we’ve focused on decorating the garden more and are actually hoping on painting a mural on the upper wall.”

Student Council has been putting in a lot of work to fix and maintain the garden in hopes of creating a more enjoyable learning environment.

Over the past year and half, Student Council has dedicated time and effort into preserving the hidden garden. (Elon Lewis)

Over the past year and half, Student Council has dedicated time and effort into preserving the hidden garden. (Elon Lewis)

Over the past year and half, Student Council has dedicated time and effort into preserving the hidden garden. (Illeanna Segura)

After tying Rider last week, Denton needed to do one thing in their next game against Azle.

“We’re just going to have to come out and win,” head coach Ryan Dunlevy said Friday. “That’s the only thing that we can do, is win.”

The Broncos got just that, coming away with a 3-0 win over the previously-undefeated Hornets at Bronco Field Tuesday night. The three points put Denton above Azle in the District 5-5A standings and into first place.

“We’re exactly where I think we should be,” Dunlevy said after the game.

The first 24 minutes of the game went by uneventfully, the closest either team got to a scoring opportunity coming in the 19th, when Azle senior Chris Medellin made a run into the Denton penalty area before having his shot forced well wide of the net by a pair of defenders. In the 24th Denton senior Chris Torres tracked down an off-target corner taken by senior Zach Ardis at the edge of the box, sending the ball back into the mixer, where it was flicked off of a head to the feet of senior Feliciano Amaya. Amaya buried the shot from 15 yards, putting the Broncos ahead.

The Broncos’ pressure intensified immediately in the second half, senior Jose Herrera coming close to doubling the lead with a shot well-parried by Azle junior keeper Austin McCash just four minutes in. In the 47th minute, Torres played a ball over the heads of a handful of Azle defenders, finding senior Zach Alspach. Despite the defensive pressure ten yards from the mouth of the goal, Alspach managed to get off a shot and beat McCash to put the Broncos up 2-0.

The three points were effectively sealed in the 72nd with a one-two combination between Amaya and Torres, the latter rocketing the ball into the top left corner of the net and making it 3-0.

Having scored just three goals combined against seventh-place Boswell and eighth-place Chisholm Trail in the opening two games of the district season, Denton has outscored their opponents 7-0 in the past three.

“

It’s finally started to click and that’s about what we needed,”

— Ryan DunLevy, head mens soccer coach

Amaya and Torres each had a goal and an assist on the night, and their combination play often led to more chances throughout. Amaya says that the chemistry he and Torres have is just natural.

“We grew up together,” Amaya said. “We played every single day. Every team I’ve been on, he’s been with me. We have a brother-like chemistry, and I think you can see on the field. I know where he is, he knows where I am all the time.”

Dunlevy thinks that the chemistry between Amaya and Torres is true for the rest of the team as well.

“They’re all playing as one, cohesive unit,” Dunlevy said. “It’s not just one person, not just one goalscorer. We have a multitude of goalscorers; we have a multitude of weapons; we play together. It’s not one person playing for them; it’s everyone playing for each other.”

The Hornets, who averaged 3.73 goals per game coming into the contest, were held to seven shots – just one, a long-distance attempt in the 64th minute that barely tested the keeper – the entire night.

“Defensively, [we] played great,” Dunlevy said. “I trust my defense completely. Everybody on our team trusts our defense, because we stay organized, we play simple soccer, we don’t try to get too confusing, and it’s been effective.”

Azle (12-1-0 overall, 4-1-0 in district play, 12 points), now in second place, travels to White Settlement to play Brewer on Friday. The Bears sit at 6-3-2 (1-3-1, 4 points) after a 7-0 demolition at the hands of Rider Tuesday.

Friday the Broncos (9-1-4, 4-0-1, 13 points) travel to Saginaw to play the 3-6-2 (2-3-1, 7 points) Rough Riders, who beat Chisholm Trail Tuesday. The two teams faced each other in the playoffs last year, Denton prevailing 2-0 on goals from Torres (15th minute, on a penalty) and Amaya (43rd minute).

“We’re at the top of the table,” Torres said. “Everyone wants to beat us.”

Four seniors signed their letters of intent to play football in college as part of a National Signing Day ceremony, Wednesday morning in the Jim Bateman Field House.

First team all-state receiver Key’andre Hearvey committed to Prairie View A&M, located in Prairie View. The Panthers play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference of Division I FCS, making Hearvey the first Bronco football player to sign with a Division I school since Aaron Sims and Anthony Sowe committed to the University of Texas-El Paso and Southern Methodist University, respectively, in 2006. Hearvey played varsity for three years.

Offensive lineman Rowdy Clark, who sat out the entirety of his senior year due to a knee injury, signed with Midwestern State University, a Division II school in Wichita Falls. Clark started his sophomore year at right tackle and his junior year at left tackle.

Judd Terry, Rowdy Clark, Key’andre Hearvey and Kade Wagner pose with football coach Kevin Atkinson after signing letters of intent to play football at several colleges. (Ryan Carr)

Judd Terry, Rowdy Clark, Key’andre Hearvey and Kade Wagner pose with football coach Kevin Atkinson after signing letters of intent to play football at several colleges. (Ryan Carr)

Judd Terry, Rowdy Clark, Key’andre Hearvey and Kade Wagner pose with football coach Kevin Atkinson after signing letters of intent to play football at several colleges. (Ryan Carr)

Judd Terry, Rowdy Clark, Key’andre Hearvey and Kade Wagner pose with football coach Kevin Atkinson after signing letters of intent to play football at several colleges. (Ryan Carr)

Judd Terry, Rowdy Clark, Key’andre Hearvey and Kade Wagner pose with football coach Kevin Atkinson after signing letters of intent to play football at several colleges. (Ryan Carr)

Judd Terry, another offensive lineman, signed with East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. Terry, the starting right guard his sophomore year, transitioned to right tackle as a junior and filled Clark’s hole at left tackle as a senior.

Kade Wagner, son of computer science teacher Barry Wagner, selected Division III Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. Wagner played offensive tackle for Denton for three years on varsity.

In a world where boy bands seem to pop up everywhere from nowhere, particularly in the non-American formation; Rixton is a different band originally from the UK. Rixton consists of four members: Jake Roche – lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Charley Bagnall – lead guitar, backing vocals, Danny Wilkin – bass and keyboards, backing vocals, and Lewi Morgan – drums and occasional backing vocals. Wilkin and Roche began writing songs together after high school. Later on, the duo was joined by Bagnall through mutual friends, and lastly Morgan joined after Jake’s girlfriend (at the time) introduced them.

Their sound is prominently pop/R&B, taken after artists such as Maroon 5 and Chris Brown. Rixton’s initial claim to fame came through posting their creative covers onto YouTube. The band’s talent and sense of humor attracted the attention of talent manager, Scooter Braun, who also signed many artists, including Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.

(Courtesy of Moxie)

(Courtesy of Moxie)

(Courtesy of Moxie)

(Courtesy of Moxie)

(Courtesy of Moxie)

In 2013, they released the music video, “Make Out,” which consisted of parodies of popular songs at the time. The music video received more than a million views, despite the song never being released as a single. Their first actual single, “Me and My Broken Heart,” wasn’t released until early 2014. The song went on to chart in many countries and peaked at number 14 in the United States. “Wait On Me” followed as the next single after the Me and My Broken Heart EP was released. In 2015, “Hotel Ceiling” became Rixton’s third single, which is to be followed by their first official studio album, Let The Road. Let The Road will be released on March 3, 2015.

I think Rixton’s music is refreshing, compared to the insistent pop/rock other boy bands are known for. It still has those influences, but adds the r&b/soul vibe that gives it a new spin. The songs Rixton has showcased so far have contained the famous heartbreak theme, but also a more sensual, mature lyric and energy. If you’re looking for a boy band that creates a more urban sound, then Rixton should definitely be next on your playlist.

The IB Diploma Programme was awarded a $20,000 grant from the Miles Foundation. Pictured Left to Right are Associate Principal, Renee Koontz, Principal, Dan Ford, President of Miles Foundation, name, IB DP Coordinator, Beth Hughes, and IB MYP Coordinator, Kimberly Thaggard. (Staff)

The music swells and silhouettes of students wearing flapper dresses and slick suits are projected to the audience. The curtain opens, the lights come up, and the stage explodes with life – just in time for the conductor to cut the music and demand to run the overture again.

Three months of rehearsals now come to an end for the cast, crew, and pit of the spring musical Mame, which opens on Jan. 22, 2015.

“It’s set in the late twenties right before the Great Depression,” theatre director Thomas Stratton said. “Mame is a very progressive, forward-thinking woman for her time. She is a lover of life and a go-getter and not afraid of new ideas and trying new things, and I love her. She has a gusto for life and just goes for it.”

The show revolves around the life of the affluent Manhattan woman, Mame Dennis, as she takes on the challenge of raising her orphaned nephew, Patrick. Living a lavish lifestyle of parties and alcohol, Mame is in no position to raise a child, and the show revolves around the ups and downs of their relationship.

“She’s a partier, and she has no idea how to take care of children, but that doesn’t stop her from taking Patrick in and raising him well,” senior Will Cates, who portrays Mame’s nephew Dennis, said. “The love between Patrick and Mame is palpable in the show.”

The Cast of Mame poses after one of their scenes (Courtesy of Denton High School Theatre)

Mame, played by junior Abbey Dacus, is an independent woman in changing times, and as the show goes on, it seems nothing remains the same except the love Mame and Patrick have for one another.

“He’s the only real family she has at all, just like she’s the only real family Patrick has,” Cates said. “She’s seen him grow up, and his whole life he’s had Auntie Mame, so they both are kind of a staple in each other’s life. The one thing that’s gonna be constant.”

Dacus earned the role of Mame at auditons–a role she has always dreamed of playing.

“She showed herself to be the person for the role,” Stratton said. “She can sing, act and dance, and that’s the person that you need. She fits the character.”

The competitive nature of the auditions allow for a top notch cast list.

“All our auditions are open auditions, which means anyone in the school can audition for the show,” Stratton said. “You never know who’s gonna walk in the door, and it keeps the kids on their toes that way. When you come to auditions you have to bring it; you have to show your stuff. That’s the way the game is played.”

With larger than life characters, the show demands full commitment from its actors.

“There’s a ton of characters in this show and they each have their quirky, unique little attributes about them,” Cates said.

Junior Carissa Walker, who plays Vera Charles – Mame’s over the top best friend – agrees that the spunk of each character is just one of many attributes that give this show so much energy.

“The cast is humongous,” Walker said. “There’s so many people, so many different characters from all different walks of life; the set is huge; the dance numbers blow my mind. They’re so big and extravagant and crazy and all over the place and difficult, and the songs are equally as difficult and intense. It’s a lot to take in, and I love it.”

Walker added the costumes are her favorite part of the show by far.

“The costumes are so extravagant and crazy and there’s so many of them,” Walker said. “They’re fantastic and so beautiful and very timely. They blow my mind.”

The costumes seen in Mame are assembled by a group of volunteer techies, headed by junior Eric Molina.

“I would just like to say, without costumes every cast member would be naked on stage,” Molina said. “I have to find costumes and the crew and I have to practice and practice quick changes. There’s just so much that goes into a musical. It’s crazy.”

Costumes are only part of the preparations needed before opening night.

“There’s thousands of man hours that take place before the curtain opens,” Stratton said. “It’s crazy how much time goes into this, but it’s a lot of fun.”

With a show the size of Mame, it was sure that the cast and crew would face some setbacks; however, with nearly a decade of experience directing musicals, Stratton won’t back down from a challenge.

“One of our big snags this year has been trying to fit all our set pieces backstage,” Stratton said. “Our wings are too small, and so we’re having to be really creative and think outside the box on how we’re going to do that. Being really creative with the set design, being flexible and being open-minded, that’s the key.”

As the cast and crew work out the kinks, Molina says his excitement for the show is uncontainable.

“This is one of the reasons I love teching a musical,” Molina said. “Watching the show transform and blossom into a beautiful butterfly that flaps its big wings and soars into the sky is breathtaking.”

The show isn’t the only thing that has grown throughout the rehearsal process, as the bonds between actors grow stronger day by day.

“We’re always together now,” Cates said of the choir, band, orchestra and theatre kids that make up the cast, crew and pit of the show. “We’re here from early in the morning to 10 at night. It’s more like being in a family because we’re always together. They’re all my brothers and sisters.”

Dacus describes how the friendships she’s made through the show are perhaps what she will remember most about the experience.

“

We have quite an outreach this year with this show. This is an older show, the music is older, and it’s set in the time period of the late twenties to early thirties and forties,”

— theatre director, Mr. Tom Stratton

“I’ve gotten to know some people I wouldn’t have known before,” Dacus said. “I’ve made a lot of new friends. I got to know some theatre kids and they’re amazing and they’re right down the hall and I didn’t even know they were there. It’s just been a great experience. I’ll probably remember how fun it was and how full of life everyone is in this show.”

The show will run 22-24 and 29-31, with 7 p.m. shows daily and 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday. A special invitation for the Jan. 29 show has been extended to retirement centers and nursing homes.

“We have quite an outreach this year with this show,” Stratton said. “This is an older show, the music is older, and it’s set in the time period of the late twenties to early thirties and forties, so there’s a lot of seniors that are from that era. We’re offering a special $3 to groups of seniors 60 years and older. If they’ll come, I think they’ll really enjoy it.”

“It has your chorus numbers, your dance numbers, good character development between the main characters. It has all the good elements needed for a good musical,” Stratton said. “I’m hoping this year to come home with Best Musical.”

The show itself isn’t the only thing Stratton has to be confident in.

“The kids are working very hard, and I’m really proud of them,” Stratton said. “We’re asking a lot of them, but this is something they can be proud of. This is something they can look back on and say, ‘I was a part of that, and it was really good.’”

When the show opens on Thursday night, all the cast can hope is that the time, energy and heart they put into the show will be felt by all who come to see it.

“Once the show opens and the curtain comes up and the lights come on, the whole stage just explodes with happiness,” Walker said. “It’s gonna be an amazing show, and I just hope that the audience feels the love we have on stage in the house.”

With a smile, Carolyn Bason greets hundreds of students each day into the school library with the mission of helping the young adults discover a good book.

After twelve years as a Bronco, and nearly 30 years in education, Bason retires effective Dec. 19, 2014.

“I’m going to spend more time with my grand kids, parents, and lots of time with my beloved husband,” Bason said. “I want to read more. It’ll be nice to be able to pick up a book that I’ve put in a stack and haven’t been able to read in twelve years. I’m looking forward to that a lot.”

Before becoming a librarian, Bason taught journalism in South Texas and Lewisville High School where she advised yearbook for over 25 years. It was as a librarian she joined DHS, a position which fosters a love she has had since she was a little girl.

“I spent lots of time in the library when I was a kid, and I love to read,” Bason said. “Books can take you away. You can go places all over the world, or outside of the world that you can’t experience in everyday life. It’s a good escape. I just love to read. All kinds of stories.”

“

It’ll be nice to be able to pick up a book that I’ve put in a stack and haven’t been able to read in twelve years,”

— librarian Carolyn Bason

In addition to her love of reading, Bason truly loves her job, which shows in the effort she has put towards developing the library over the years.

“We do a lot of different book displays to get students interested,” Bason said. “We spend a lot of time pushing books and magazines, trying to get people to read more because that’s so important. Sharing books with kids, getting to talk with them and do Reader’s Advisory, and helping them find that perfect book – that’s what makes them want to read another one.”

Bason hopes that with her efforts over the years the library has become just as influential for her students as it was for her.

“The library is a wonderful place to be,” Bason said. “It’s a welcoming place. I want kids to feel comfortable coming in and talking with the librarians, getting a book, reading it. I just hope that they’ll feel like this is a good place for them to be and that they’ll wanna keep reading, because that is so important to me.”

Bason’s retirement only reinforces the ideal: once a Bronco, always a Bronco.

“I’ll still be here in Denton,” Bason said. “I’m not going anywhere. This is home to me.”

During this coming week, students will be studying and taking the final exam. To get through this week of stress, sleepless nights here are 10 tips to help students to stay organized and awake to pass the test!

30-50/10: According to thesocialu101.com, this method is used by several college students. What the tactic suggests for students to do is to study for 30-50 minutes and then take a 10 minute break. Students then still have plenty of time to study each topic but it won’t wear you out as quickly.

STAYING AWAKE: When it comes to taking tests or studying it can be very tiring . No matter how many shots of espresso have had today it just won’t cut it. To kill fatigue (1) eat healthy snacks instead of the fatty stuff. Digesting food is the most tiring process for the body by eating healthy food it help keep the body awake and ready to work.(2) Drink LOTS of water, dehydration can cause fatigue. (3) Try a quick walk. It helps to get blood pumping to your brain.

STUDY GROUPS: As great as study groups are be in a good group that can help and get things done. Hanging out with friends is fun but now is not the time, there will be all christmas break to hang out and even better not at a study group. Study, work hard and get things done.

TIME MANAGEMENT: Although people think students have all the time in the world sadly… they DON’T. To maximize their time buckle down and figure out what needs to studied the most. For example if Algebra ll is easy but chemistry is a tough subject then find a friend who is good at Chemistry and form a study group. Also Youtube has great tutorials if study groups don’t work out.

MAKE A LIST: Don’t let stress take over, this step will help. Try writing everything that NEEDS to be done on paper and then as it gets done scribble it out, it shows how much has been accomplished and shows visually what has to be done next.

DO THE MATH: If the students overall grade is relying on the Final Exam Test Grade than students can plug the grade they would like to have in the class into the equation and find out what they need to get overall on the test. The grade they want in the class-.8 (the average of the students two 9 weeks grades) divided by .2. The resulting number will give the student what is needed to reach their goal grade for the class.

RELAX: Do not stress over this test. No matter how hard it is stay positive, “Some days you have to create your own sunshine.” (Quote by Sam Sundquist) Remember winter break is almost here, just make it one more week then relax, drink all the hot chocolate and apple cider possible.

KNOW THE SCHEDULE: Do not cram for Physics the night before the test. Decide what days studying which classes would be best. Here is a link to the Final Exams Schedule, so print it off and organize the students studying days.

ON/OFF: When studying turn keep distractions to a minimum by keeping brains on and phones off. As much fun as “Trivia Crack” is it’s a distraction and it won’t allow focused studying. After studying students can look forward to playing on their phones but remember the test is knowledge from school not who is the best trivia player.

DO THE REVIEWS: The reviews are given out to help prepare students for the test. A lot of the time the tests are very similar to the review. Don’t wait to do the reviews last second. If students have a question then they want to be able to ask their teacher and figure out how to do the problem.

On Nov. 1, Denton High School’s Bronco swim team kicked off the their season both fun and competitively with the Halloween relays. This year DHS competed with Birdville, Decatur, Byron Nelson, Lewisville, Ryan, and Guyer.

“This was really to show our swimmers how meets work,” swim coach Robin Hay said. “It’s a way for the varsity swimmers to take the JV under their wing and show them around.”

Unfortunately DHS as a team did not place, but that was understandable.

“

I think this meet really showed us that some of the JV will be ready to move up at the semester,”

— swim coach Robin Hay

“This is the first time that some JV swimmers have actually swam in a meet before and most of their swims were best times,” Hay said. “I think this meet really showed us that some of the JV will be ready to move up at the semester, which is really exciting for the water polo team next season.”